[KM] Keep_Mailing Moving to GM Role ?

You have spent long and hard in a functional role, rising to "manager of accounting" or "maintenance manager" or "HR manager" or any number of other management roles.  Now you want to move up a step to General Manager*. 

 

What do you need to do now to prove that you are ready for the move up?  Here is what I look for in a potential General Manager.

 

Leadership skills

I look for evidence that a candidate has demonstrated most of the following skills in his or her current role:

 

• Business acumen - understanding the basic drivers of our business and comfort with the three basic financial reports (P&L statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement) and ratio analysis
• Thinking strategically
• Planning, budgeting and cost control
• Driving for, and getting results through others, including executing strategic and tactical plans
• Developing resources, especially people and teams - including hiring, firing, retaining and developing direct reports (monthly coaching sessions are one great tool for making this happen)
• Workplace culture development
• Delegation and follow-through - and keeping commitments
• Learning on the fly
• Influencing, and building trust
• Conflict resolution
• Communicating effectively - in writing, on the phone, over email, in person, in front of groups
• Listening
• Managing change
• Making decisions at the appropriate level of risk
• Priority setting
• Problem solving - alone, and with others
• Self-awareness and self-development

 

Functional knowledge

 

I look for deep knowledge in at least one functional area.  In addition, I want to see that the candidate has stretched out in order to have an impact on other functions.  For example, a manager of operations should have shown the ability to add value on sales calls.  Functions you should be aware of and be able to contribute ideas to might include:

 

• Human Resource management
• Accounting and finance
• IT
• Environmental controls
• Engineering
• Logistics
• Maintenance
• Manufacturing/operations
• Purchasing
• Sales and Marketing
• Customer service and order fulfillment
• External relations

If you are aspiring to a GM role, what are you doing to demonstrate these skills and knowledge?  If you are already a GM, what would you add or take away from this list?

 

*A general manager usually has responsibility for all aspects of one segment of the business:  finance, accounting, sales and marketing, human resources, operations, purchasing and so one.

 

M Junaid Tahir www.DailyTenMinutes.com

     

--
--
To post to this group, send email to keep_mailing@googlegroups.com
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "keep_mailing" group.
To post to this group, send email to keep_mailing@googlegroups.com.